Truck drivers spend a good portion of their shift on the road transporting goods from one location to the next. Because this can cause a trucker to become tired and fatigued, they must stop driving after having worked a certain number of hours. The rules that outline the time frame in which a truck driver can operate a vehicle are called the Hours of Service Regulations.

According to the FMCSA’s Hours of Service Regulations, drivers who are required to transport property are only permitted to operate their vehicles for an 11-hour or 14-hour period after spending 10 consecutive hours off duty. These rules exist to help prevent truckers from driving for extended periods and potentially falling asleep at the wheel. Unfortunately, drivers sometimes work beyond the FMCSA’s limits, which results in them becoming too tired to operate their vehicles safely (and more apt to become involved in accidents).

Truck drivers are held to a much higher standard than drivers of passenger vehicles, as truck drivers are often responsible for carrying heavy loads and hazardous materials. Drivers must safely operate their vehicles and should not perform any maneuvers that could increase their chances of causing their truck to flip or crash into another vehicle. This means they must follow not only the FMCSA’s safety regulations but also the rules of the road.

If a truck driver fails to do this and operates their vehicle recklessly (e.g., makes an unsafe lane change, makes a sharp turn, or fails to adjust their driving to roadway conditions), they can be held liable for the accidents they cause. If a truck driver in Enterprise was operating their vehicle in an unsafe manner and caused you to engage in a collision, High Stakes Injury Law is here to help you understand what forms of legal action can be taken against the driver.

Like all other drivers, truck drivers are not permitted to get behind the wheel of their vehicles after having consumed alcohol. If a trucker causes a collision as a result of driving while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or even certain prescription medications, you may be able to bring a claim against the driver to recover compensation for your injuries and losses.

Truck accident cases tend to be much more complex than those that involve passenger vehicles, as they usually involve multiple parties. Before assuming you have a case against the truck driver who you believe caused the accident, you need to have a lawyer determine if any other parties can also be held accountable for your injuries and losses. In some cases, you may also have a case against the truck driver’s employer as some companies are responsible for their drivers’ behavior.

Once the liable parties have been identified, a substantial amount of evidence will need to be collected to help build and support your case. This would include evidence that supports your claim against the party that your lawyer thinks was negligent.